Heating system



W. H. SCHOONMAKER.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 3, 1917- 1,418,835. PatentedJune 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR WM 6W A TTOR/VEY STATES PATENT orrica.

WILLIAM H. SCHOQNMAKER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

HEATING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 3, 1917.

To all Il /Z0772 it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. ScHooN- MAKER, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of Montclair, county of Essex, andState of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful HeatingSystem, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for house heating andthe like, and is applicable to ordinary steam heating systems, either tothe so-called one pipe or to the so-called two pipe systems, also to themodification of steam heating systems known as the vapor heating system.As an apparatus it comprises a suction apparatus connected to theheating coils or radiators of the system, and controlled, automatically,and preferably by the draft damper or damper regulator of the boilersupplying steam to the system, in such manner that when the damper ordampers of the boiler are adjusted to cause increased action of the firein the boiler the said suction device is started in operation. Theconstruction is also preferably such that when the boiler damper ordampers is or are adjusted to cause decreased action of the fire in theboiler the action of the said suction device is stopped. My inventionfurther comprises means whereby the action of the suction apparatus isstopped upon establishment of a predetermined degree of partial vacuumin the heating system, and is started again upon fall of that partialvacuum below a predetermined degree and my invention further comprisesmeans whereby upon the estab-- lislunent of a predetermined temperaturein the return or air-withdrawal line of the system, the operation ofsuch suction apparatus is stopped, and is started again upon the fall toa predetermined degree of the temperature in said returnorair-withdrawal line. By so applying suction to, or creating ,a partialvacuum in. the said return or aira water being drawn up by suction intothe return line of the heating system to some predetermlned polnt, a

connection will be opened automatically between the supply Specificationof Letters Patent.

obtain increased fuel economy; and

Patented June 6, 1922.

Serial No. 152,198.

steam heating systems and vapor heating systems more quickly responsive;to cause the heating coils of the radiator or radiators of the system tobe filled With steam more quickly, upon the adjustment of the furnacedamper or dampers for increased. combustion, more particularly when theboiler has notbeen supplying steam to the heating coils for aconsiderable length of time (as for example during the night when theboiler has been shut off, i. e., the drafts have been set so that theboiler has not generated steam) to enerally to accomplish the aboveobjects ale retaining simplicity of apparatus and with-' out materialaddition to expense of apparatus.

Heretofore so-called vapor heating systerms have been employed, whereinonce for a considerable time at'least, in the heating coils orradiators, and in the boiler; but these systems. so far as I am aware,have commonly required that steam shall first be generated at oraboveatmospheric pressure, or else have required that a suction pumpshall be started by hand or by means otherthan the normal automaticcontrol apparatus of the boiler itself. Such apparatus does not providefor the automatic establishment of a partial vacuum in the heatingsystem at the time when that partial vacuum is most needed. i. e., whenthe drafts of the boiler are opened, automatically or other-' wise,inthe morning, after the furnace has been shut off all night. It isobvious that if, at or about the time when the drafts of the furnace areopenedin the morning, a partial vacuum be applied to the heating coilsor radiators of the system, steam will be generated in the boiler muchsooner'than otherwise, and the heating coils or radiators will be filledwith steam much sooner than otherwise.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of vertical sectionof an automatic air valve forming a portion of my heating system; Figure3 shows a central vertical section of a diaphragm-operated valve forminga portion of the control mechanism of an exhauster employed in my saidsystem; Figure 4 is a View, similar to Figure 1, showing the applicationof my invention to a socalled single pipe heating system; Figure 5shows, more or less diagrammatically, an elevation of the said automaticair valve, together with means operated by that air valve for operatinga control valve of the said exhauster, such control. valve being shownin vertical section; Figure 6 shows a fragmentary vertical section of afloat-operated valve employed in my system; and Figure 7 shows a centralvertical section of a check valve which may be employed in the singlepipe system shown in Figure 4.

Numeral 1 designates an ordinary heating boiler; 2 a steam supply pipeextending therefrom to the radiators or heating coils 3; and 4designates the return line from the radiators to the boiler. 5designates the ordinary draft damper of the boiler and 6 the ordinarycheck damper in the connection to the smoke pipe 7 these dampers beingarranged to be operated automatically by the usual regulating lever8'itself operated by the usual diaphragm 9, the dampers 5 and 6 beingconnected to lever 8 by the usual flexible connections 10 and 11.

12 designates a valve casing, shown in detail in Figure 2.

13 designatesla suction producing apparatus, the particular type ofapparatus shown being a water-jet exhauster, of well known construction;though the particular construction of suction apparatus employed isimmaterial, in abroad sense. I have shown this suction producing deviceas provided, in its water supply line. with a valve 14 connected to theregulating lever 8 of the boiler bya connection 15, in such manner thatas the damper 5 is opened and the damper 6 closed, the valve 14 will beopened, so starting the suction producing device 13 in operation; and assaid damper 5 is closed and damper 6 opened, valve 14 will be closed, sostopping the action of the suction producing device 13.

In the water supply line to the exhausting apparatus 13 there is alsoanother valve 16 (see Figure 3) illustrated as of the diaphragm-operatedtype, and arranged to close when a predetermined degree of suction orvacuum has been reached in the heating system, and to open when thatsuction or degree of vacuum decreases considerably; the opening andclosing of this valve controlling the ratus 13.

Referring now to Figure 2: Within the valve casing 12 there is athermo-expansible member 17 provided with an adjustable anchoring device18 at its left hand end. This member 17 is connected by a pivoted lever19 to avlink 20 having a slip-connection with another link 21 itselfconnected to a check valve 22. Valve casing 12 is interposed in thesteam return line 4; and beyond the check valve 22 said valve casing 12is connected by pipe 23 to the exhauster '13. Furthermore, link 20 isconnected to'link 21 by u a spring-slip-connection 24, which serves toprevent destruction of check valve 22 after valve 22 has seated, in,case member 17 ex pands still further and serves to-permit the valve 22to remain closed upon contraction of member 17. The construction is suchthat, when there is steam in return pipe 4, such steam will fill thevalve casing 12, the varying temperatures of such steam causing varyingexpansion of the member 17, which expansion is communicated, throughlever 19 and links 20 and 21, to valve 22. Should return line 4 be cold,valve 22 will be open. When the steam in the return line reaches somepredetermined temperature, the corresponding expansion of member 17 Wlllclose check valve 22. The valve casing 12 serves, it will be seen, asasuction-connection between the exhauster 13 and the return line 4.

It may be understood that the regulating lever S'of the furnace isarranged to be operated by any of the well known devices, (for example,a so-called time-controlled thermostat 25 electrically controlling adamper-0p crating motor 26) for holding the air draft 5 of the furnaceclosed and the check valve 6 of the furnace open, during the night, andfor opening the air damper 5, and closing the check damper 6, in themorning. Such opening of the air damper and closing of the check damperwill be accompanied ly a downward motion of the right hand end of lever8 which will open the valve 14, starting operation of the exhauster 13,and producing a partial vacuum in the heating system, which will insurethe filling of that system with steam long before boiling point aatmospheric pressure has been reached in the boiler. When thetemperature in the return line 4 has reached some predetermined value,the expansion of member 17 will close valve 22; and almost immediatelythereafter valve 16 will close, shutting for with valve 22 closed thepartial vacuum beyond such valve will quickly reach the value at whichthe diaphragm actuating device of valve 16 is set to close that valve.

action of the exhausting appaoff the exhauster 13;

Preferably, Within the valve casing 12 a shield 27, covering theexpansible member 17 is provided to preventdirect impact of steam or hotwater formed by condensation of the steam upon the member 17. It isintended that this member shall act by expansion due to heatof steamdifi'used through the vvalve casing 12, rather than by heat due to impact ofsteamor hot water directly on member 17. Check valve 22 willclose (i1 not already closed) when some predetermined sufficient degreeof partial vacuum has been reached in return pipe 4, Whether or not themember 17 has expanded to an extent sufficient to close valve 22,theslip connection 24 permitting the closing of said valve 22 by partialvacuum derived from pipe 4.

It will be seen that, in the event of lowering of temperature of thefluid returned through pipe 4, below a predetermined degree, expansiblemember 17 will open valve 22. It will be seen that by this apparatus theradiators 3 aremaintained under some suction throughout the day, unlessthe tem perature of the return steam or water becomes so high as toclose valve'22, in which event there is no need for partial vacuum intheradiators.

\Vhile valve 16, operated by suction, provides a means whereby theoperation of the exhauster 13 will be stopped when valve 22 is closed,either by expansion of member 17 or by establishment of a predetermineddegree of suction in-the return line 4, still it is desirable that meansbe provided for the stopping of the operation of the exhauster 13 asaresult of expansion of member 17 to some predetermined degree,independent of the closing of valve 22, and operation of valve 16.--Therefore; 'I haveprovided mechanical means whereby expansion of,member 17 causes the stoppage of the operation of the exhauster. In thisway unnecessary intermittent starting and stopping of the operation ofthe exhauster '13, by valve 16, due to variation of partial vacuumbehind the valve 22 when that valve is closed, is avoided.

This mechanical means for controlling the operation of the exhauster 13by expansible member 17, is shown particularly in Figure 5. In the watersupply line 28 leading to the exhauster there is a valve casing withinwhich is a valve 29 adapted to be opened and closed by the raising andlowering of its stem 30. On the pivot shaft 31 of lever 19 (Figure 2)there is an arm 33 having at its end a slot in which works a pin carriedby a pivoted arm 34; the other end of this arm 34 working between stops35 and 36 of valve stem 30. compression spring 37 is arranged to tend tohold arm 34 either in the position shown, orin a reverse position i. e.said spring tends tohold valve 29 either wide open or fully closed. Itwill be apparent that when member 17, within casing 12, expandssufliciently, arm 33 will have raised arm 34 sufficiently to causespring 37 to close valve 29 quickly; so stopping the operation of theexhauster 13, and holding tion of the 'exhauster is not required.

Whether valve 14 will be opened or not when valve 29 is so opened, willdepend upon, the position of the damper 5. It damper 5' be closed (forexample it may be held closed at the time by the action of thethermostat motor 26) then valve 14 will not be open and exhauster 13will not operate.

In some conditions it might happen that, through the drawing of apartial vacuum in the return line 4, water might be drawn up into thatreturn line, to a point considerably above the water level in theboiler; and this might lead to very undesirable conditions.

To obviate this, I provide, in the return line 4, a float chamber 38,located above the normal water level of the boiler, but below the valvecasing 12; and within this float chamber there is a float 39 connectedby a rod 40 to a valve 41 having a port 42 adapted, when the floatis'raised, to place in communication with each other pipe lines 43 and44 leading respectively to the return line 4 (at a point. well above thevalve casing 12) and to thesupply line 2. It will be seen that waterrising in return line 4. to an extent sufficient to partly fill floatchamber 38 and to raise the float therein, will result in the connectionof pipes 43 and 44, with consequent balancing of pressures (in this casenegative pressures) in the two sides 2 and 4 of the heating system;whereupon the water which has risen in the return line 4 will drop againto normal water level.

As illustrated in Figure 4 in the case of a one pipe system, a returnpipe 4 may be connected to the ordinary air valves 30' of the radiators3 and may lead to the valve casing 12, which in that event serves as asupplemental air valve for the entire system, besides serving toregulate the application of vacuum to the radiators and besides servingas means, in connection with the pipe 4, for

risen. It is in this sense that I have mentioned increase and decreaseof suction or partial vacuum in the above description.

VYhat I claim is:. I 1. In a heating system, the combination of adistributing conduit, means for supplying steam thereto having a dampercontroli a distributing conduit, means for supplying steam theretohaving a damper controlling its operation, means for applying suction tosaid conduit, and control means for said suction-applying means,comprising means for causing said suction applying means to operate uponchange of adjustment of said damper in a sense to cause increase of theheating action of the steam supply means and for causing said suctionapplying means to cease operation upon change of adjust ment of saiddamper in a sense to cause decrease of the heating action of the steamsupply means.

3. In a heating system, the combination 'of a distributing conduit,means for supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler having a dampercontrolling its operation, means for Withdrawing air from said conduit,comprising suction producing means having control means, and operatingmeans for said control means arranged to cause application of suction tosaid conduit upon adjustment of said damper in a sense to causeincreased heating action in said boiler.

4. In a heating'system, the combination of a distributing conduit, meansfor supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler having a dampercontrolling its operation, means for withdrawing air from said conduit,comprising suction producing means having control means,and operatingmeans for said control means arranged to cause application of suction tosaid conduit upon adjustment of said damper in a sense to causeincreased heating action in saidboil'er, and arranged to ceaseapplication ofsuction to said conduit upon adjustment of said damper ina sense to cause decreased heating action in said boiler.

5. In a heating sstem, the'combination of a distributing conduit, meansfor supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler having a dampercontrolling its operation, means for withdrawing air from said conduit,comprising suction producing means having control means arranged tocause application of suction to said conduit upon adjustment of saiddamper in a sense to cause increased heating action in said boiler, andarranged to cease application of suction to said conduit uponestablishment of apredetermined degree of partial vacuum in saidconduit.

6. In a heating system, the combination of a distributing conduit, meansfor supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler,"

a valve casing in communication with said distributing conduit, suctionproducing means, an air withdrawal conduit connected to said casing atone end and to the suction producing means at the other end, a valvewithin said valve casing, and thermostatic operating means for saidvalve, located within the casing and arranged to be influenced by thetemperature of the fluid in said casing.

7. In a heating system, the combination of a distributing conduit, meansfor supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler, asuction producingmeans, a conduit connected at one end with'the distributing con-= duitand at its opposite end with the suction producing means for withdrawingair from the distributing conduit, and control means arranged within.the conduit for starting the operation of said suction producing meanstocause an increased act-ion of the boiler upon decrease of temperature orfor step ping the operation of said suction producing means to reducethe action of the boiler upon increase of temperature in said, con--duit.

8. In a heating system, the combination of a distributing conduit, meansfor supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler, suetion producingmeans, an air withdrawal conduit including a casing connectedto saiddistributing conduit at one end and to the suction producing means at1ts opposite end,

according to the temperature within said casing. I

9. In a heating system, therombination of a distributing conduit, meansfor supplying steam thereto, comprising a boiler having a regulatingdamper and automatic operating means for said damper, an airwithdrawalconduit connected to said distributing-conduit, suction producing meansconnected to said air-withdrawal conduit and having control means forstarting and stopping the operation of said suction producing means, andmeans connecting said control means to the automatic damper operatingmeans of the boiler arranged to start thezsuction producing means inoperation when said damper is operated to cause increasedaction in theboiler, and to stop the operation of said suction producing means whenthe damper is operated to reduce action in the boiler. C

10.'In a heating system, the combination of a distrilrutingconduit.means for supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler having aregulating damper, and automatic operating means for said damper, anairwithdrawal conduit including a valve casing connected to saiddistributing conduit. suc tion producing means connected to saidairwithdrawal conduit and having control means for starting and stoppingthe operation of said suction producing means. and means connecting saidcontrol means to the automatic damper operating means of the boilerarranged to start the suction producing means in operation when saiddamper is operated to cause increased action in the boiler, and to stopthe operation of said suction producing means when -the damper isoperated to reduce action in the boiler, and a thermostatic valvearranged within the valve casing and adapted to close the corrnectionbetween said suction producing means and the distributing conduit uponestablishment of a predetermined temperature of the fluid in said valvecasing.

11. In a heating system.- the combination of a distributing conduit.i'neans for supplying steam thereto com pri sir'l g a boiler having aregulating damperfand automatic operating means for said damper, anair-withdrawal conduit including'avalve casing connected to saiddistributing co nduit,-- suction producing means connected bysaidair-withdrawal conduit and having control means for starting andstopping the operation of said suction producing means, and meansconnecting said control means to the automatic damper operating means ofthe boiler-an ranged to start the suction producing means in operationwhen said damper is operated to cause increased action in the boiler,and to stop the operation of said suction producing means when thedamper is operated to reduce action in the boiler, a thermostatic valvearranged within the valve casing and adapted to close the connectionbetween said suction producingmeans and the distributing conduit uponestablishment of a predetermined temperature of the fluid in said valvecasing, and means for stopping the operation of said suction producingmeans upon the closing of said valve.

12. In a heating system. the combination of a distributing conduit,means for supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler having aregulating damper, and automatic operating means for saiddamper. anair-withdrawal conduit including a valve casing connected to saiddistributing conduit, suction. producing means connected to saidair-withdrawal conduit and having control means for starting andstopping the operation of said suction producing means, and meansconnecting said control means to the automatic damper operating means ofthe boiler arranged to start the suction producing operating means.

means in operation when said damper is operated to cause increasedaction in the boiler, and to stop the operation of said suctionproducing means when the damper is operated to reduce action in theboiler, a thermostatic valve arranged within the valve casing andadapted to close the connection between said suction producing means andthe distributing conduit upon establishment of a predeterminedtemperature or the fluid in said valve casing, and means for stoppingthe operation of said suction producing means upon the closing of saidvalve and for'starting said suction producing means upon the opening ofsaid valve.

13. In a heating system. the combination with supply and return lines, aboiler connected thereto having a damper controlling its operation a11doperating means for said damper. of suction means connected to saidreturn line and arrangedlto create a partial vacuum therein upon changeof adjustment of said damper in a sense to cause increase of action in[said boiler 1.4. In a heating systemfthe combination of a distributingcondui't,means for supplying steam thereto comprising a 'boiler, suctionproducing means, an air withdrawal conduit including a valve casingconnected to said distributing conduit, andfla valve arranged Within thevalve casingand having associated therewith a heat-expansible oper-'ating means'controlled by the' temperature of the fluid in said valvecasing. of control means for said suction producing means, operated bythe expansion of said'expansible 15. In a heating of a distributingconduit, m'eansffor supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler. suctionproducing me'ans,-.. an] aireivithdrawal conduit including a'valvecasing connected to said distributing conduit. a" valve arranged withinthe valve casing and having associated therewith thermostatic operatingmeans controlled by the temperature of the fluid in said valve casing,and control means for said suction producing means operated by saidthermostatic operating means.

16. In a heating system, the combination of a distributing conduit,means for supplysystem, th'ef combination ing steam thereto comprising aboiler, suc- I said distributing conduit, a valve arranged within thevalve casing and having associated therewith a thermostatic operatingmeans controlled by the temperature of the fluid *in said valve casing,control means for said suction producing means, operated by saidthermostat1c operating means, means for startlng said suction producingmeans 111 operation when said damper is adjusted to cause increasedaction in the boiler and for stopping the operatlon of said suctionproducing means when said damper is adjusted to cause decreased actionin the boiler, and

means for starting said suction producing means in operation upondecrease'of partial vacuum in the valve casing to a predetermined degreeand for stopping the opera tion of said suction producing means uponincrease of partial vacuum in the valve casing to a-predetermineddegree.

18. In a heating system, the combination of a distributing conduit,means for supplying steam thereto comprising a boiler, said boilerhaving a controlling damper, a suction producing means, anair-withdrawal conduit including a valve casing connected to saiddistributing conduit, a valve arranged within the valve casing andhaving associated therewith a thermostatic operatmg means controlled bythe temperature of the fluid in saidvalve casing, control means for saidsuction producing means operated by saidthermosta'tic operating means,means for starting said suction producing means in operation when saiddamper is adjusted to cause increased action in the boiler and forstopping the operation of said suction producing means when said damperis adjusted to cause decreased action in the boiler and an independentmeans for controlling the actions of said suction producing means inaccordance with pressure variations between predetermined limits in thedistribut ing conduit.

19. In a. heating system, the combination with a boiler, and the supplyand return lines of a heat distributing system connected thereto, ofsuction producing meansconnected with said return line and means forcontrolling said suction producing automatic means tovary the degree ofpressure in the return line inversely with the rise and fall of pressurein the boiler. I

20. In a heating system, the'combination with a boiler, and the supplyand return trolling the boiler to increase the pressure in the supplyline, automatic means for substantially simultaneously controlling thesuction producing means-to change the pressure in the return line, andindependent means for controlling the operation of said suctionproducing means.

22. In a heating system, the combination of a boiler and the supply andreturnlines of a heat distributing system connected thereto,suction-producing means connected with said return line and automaticmeans for controlling said suction producing means to vary the degreeofpressure in the return line inversely with the rise and fall ofperature in said return line.

23. In a heating system, the combination.

of aboiler and the supply and return lines of av heat distributingsystem connected thereto, suction-producing means connected with saidreturn line, means for controlling the boiler to change the pressure inthe supply line and automatic means for substantially simultaneouslycontrolling the suctiontem- I producing means to change the pressure inthe return line inversely to the change of pressure produced in thesupply line.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib:

ing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SCHOONMAKER. WVitnesses:

H. M. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANKE,

